Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 20% higher in Rutland, VT. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio
$630
$893
+42% in Rutland, VT
1 Bedroom
$841
$856
+2% in Rutland, VT
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,097
+12% in Rutland, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,207
+1% in Rutland, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$176,400
+15% in Rutland, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$55,000
+25% in Rutland, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
48.5 yr
+19.8 yr in Rutland, VT
Homeownership
36.5%
52.7%
+16.2 pp in Rutland, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
32.2%
+2.8 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
17.0 min
14.7 min
+2.3 min in Hattiesburg, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
487.8
+120% in Rutland, VT
Property Crime
3,475.7
3,973.3
+14% in Rutland, VT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
66.1°F
44.6°F
+21.5°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
40.5 in
+18.7 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Rutland, VT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
24.4
+64% in Rutland, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$26.07
+10% in Hattiesburg, MS

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Rutland, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Rutland, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Hattiesburg, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Rutland, VT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Rutland, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Rutland, VT

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / VT)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
8.75%
+4.8 pp in VT

Hattiesburg vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Rutland?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Rutland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Rutland?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).